Fabio Sturani
Mayor of Ancona and President LOC of EVACI 2009

Ancona is waiting with great expetation the most important event of 2009, the European Veterans Athletic Championships Indoor, an international happening dedicated to the veterans of the Athletic. Capital of the Marche region, historically called Ankon (elbow) the city is placed on the Adriatic sea, surrunded by hills around the Conero cliff, is ready to welcome the thousend people expected, athletes, trainers and general staff. We like to give a warm welcome to everybody, wishing all to achive here great resoults and feeling like at home, in a friendly and stimulating envirolment, which has always been a melting pot of travelers, people and cultures. It’s a very peacefull city – like everyone will say – where people from all over the world still lives together without any problems or difficulties. More then hundred different kind of ethnic culture settled in this harbor city, working as fishermen, shipyards, in the industry and in the sale. The very good position, no doubt about it, in the middle of Italy on the Mediterranean sea, makes it a unique place where people have acttualy the luck to watch sunset and dawn, where a walk from sea to sea make the city life alot more pleasent. We are confident on the fact that both athletes and staff will feel welcome, supported by the warm of the Ancona audience and a new concept facility, the Pala indoor. It is concidered for its tecnical and build characteristics one of the best Europian facility for the Athletic. The facility, strongly requested from the city hall administration a couple of years ago, has been working on full schedule, giving Ancona an international role. On behalf of the city administration and the city itself we would like to say, we hope to see you again for future holiday: Welcome, a good staying and good luck to all you great athletes!

Franco Arese
President of Italian Athletics Federation

The Marche Region is on top of the Italian Regions’ chart that invests the most in sport. In this region, in fact, the sport is considered an important resource as well as tourism in terms of regional development. Ancona, the main city of the Marche, has a variety of sport facilities which have hosted a number of important national and international sport events. So, it comes as no surprise the decision to build in the city of Ancona the Palaindoor, an exclusive sports facility dedicated to Athletics. It is the first and unique indoor arena of its kind in Italy. Bearing these facts in mind, it is with great enthusiasm that the Italian Federation of Athletic gives its support to the Regional Committee of the Marche and the City Administration to host the European Veterans Indoor Championships 2009. An event like this in Ancona, only few weeks before the worldwide review in Torino, makes the 2009 a golden year for Indoor Athletic in Italy – a really important achievement for the entire athletic community in our country. It will also emphasize the importance of Veterans’ competitions in general. This event is, in fact, the follow up of the World Championship Open which took place in Riccione last 2007 and it is meant to maintain the high level of technical organization as well as attendance. Ancona has all it takes to win the challenge: a modern facility with advanced technology, a well organized logistical structure that has already been used for sporting events and has been proved to be highly successful. As President of the National FIDAL I can guarantee the high organisation standards of the Regional Fidal Committee and I can vouch for the full cooperation of the Federation in making the event successful in the name of Italian Athletics.

Dieter Massin
President of EVAA

Dear athletes, dear friends, With high interest and eagerness we are in anticipation of the 7th European Veteran Championships Indoor in Ancona Italy. From March 25 to 29, 2009 the European Veterans Athletic Association (EVAA) will be again visitor in Italy. Till present Italy hosted the European Veterans Championships Stadia (three times) and the Road Events (one time), for what EVAA is very thankful. For Ancona this championships mean a big challenge: both, the technical and the logistic situation comply with the requirements well. The indoor arena with its secondary grounds offers excellent requirements. All grounds are within walking distances what absolves the organiser from additional transportation and organisation problems. Moreover the LOC is very well skilled in organising athletic top events. Because of the good experiences the requirements for sports in Ancona are excellent. In addition we find a touristy attractive surrounding. For the first time the Indoors are extended to five days, due to the new record of participants in Helsinki two years ago. The EVAA is convinced that the LOC and the Italian Athletics Association together with the city of Ancona provide anything for the European veteran athletes and that together with their experiences they go to the time and effort of making these championships to a memorable title bout. The EVAA welcomes all athletes, coaches, companions and officials and wishes them exciting and successful days in Italy. Our sincere gratitude is given to the organiser that is preparing all grounds according to the requirements of athletes. Have great success and a good time in Italy!

Gian Mario Spacca
President of Marche Region

With great pleasure I’m sending my warm welcome to this big international sport event organized at the Palaindoor in Ancona. The European Veterans Indoor Championships are one of the most important event of the 2009 worldwide sport schedule.We are honoured and pleased that Ancona was chosen to be the host and we are proud of the visibility and trust giver to our high level facility and staff organization. The event will involve thousands of European athletes, supporters and staff coming from all over. It will be an international athletic celebration, a good example of how the athletics can be a socializing tool for everyone.We are confident that le Marche, with its history and traditions, natural sceneries, artistic and cultural beauty, will offer to everyone, not only a big sport event, but great hospitality, and interesting free time activities. To all of you a pleasant welcome!

Patrizia Casagrande
President of the Province of Ancona

Our Province gives full support to the organization that encourage the young and the mature one to practice sports on all levels. I’m convinced that anyone should be able to practice sport close to home, in the same ground where they been brought up, following international and national models. The European Veterans Championships Indoor will be a good opportunity to measure us with such a big organized event. A new challenge very stimulating that comes for a political choice that will involve institutions, citizens and those which are close to the wold of the sport with no fear of prove themselves on high level. This event will be for Ancona, a proof of good technical and organized structure as well as a moment of acceptance of the athletes , staff and spectators, that will experience the hospitality of the City.